Sermon Central
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Aiming Higher By Stooping Lower
Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Apr 15, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: Having trouble feeling like serving? Remember, we are more likely more likely to act ourselves into feeling than to feel ourselves into action.
“Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table?
But I am among you as one who serves.”
(NIV)
How does one become
GREAT?
One must become
SMALL !
“The greatest among you
should be like the youngest,
and the one who rules
like the one who serves.”
(NIV)
Jesus gave us 3 ordinances
(symbols) to display our Christian commitment.
An ordinance is an
OUTWARD sign
of an
INWARD work.
BAPTISM is a symbol of
LIFE CHANGE
COMMUNION (LORD’S SUPPER)
is a symbol of relationship to CHRIST
WASHING THE FEET OF THE SAINTS
is a symbol of relationship to EACH OTHER
LOVE IS BEST SHOWN THROUGH SERVICE !
We are more likely to
ACT ourselves into feeling
than to
FEEL ourselves into action!
1. When You SERVE You show STRENGTH rather than WEAKNESS! (John 13:2-3)
“The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God...”
(NIV)
2. Servants simply SERVE
(John 13: 4, 5)
Servants do not announce that they are now serving.
It was just before the Passover Feast.
Jesus knew that the time had come for him
to leave this world and go to the Father.
Having loved his own who were in the world,
he now showed them the full extent of his love.
(NIV)
“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
(NIV)
3. Servants RECEIVE as graciously as they serve!
(John 13: 6-9)
Many of us have the “PETER” complex! Serving is not a problem, but being served is!
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
4. True Servants even serve their ENEMIES
(John 13: 10, 11)
5. Blessing is found in OBEDIENCE (John 13: 14-17)
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
